Press Releases

The public is invited to share feedback for the Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee of the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental, and Health Equity Task Force during a public listening session on Tuesday, September 29 at 5 p.m.  Task Force Chair NC Department of Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders will be joined by members of the subcommittee to hear comments on the draft goals which include:

State recreational water quality officials today are alerting the public that initial testing at an ocean-side site in Brunswick County showed levels of bacteria exceeding the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality swimming standards.

RALEIGH – As Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) trustees, the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this week filed a motion in federal court that requests the judge to approve and enter a consent decree to resolve the trustees’ claims for natural resource damages, resulting from the 2014 Dan River coal ash spill.

RALEIGH - The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is investigating a sinkhole collapse and release of sediment containing coal ash adjacent to Hwy 150 in Mooresville. DEQ was made aware of the collapse of a stream culvert pipe under a coal ash structural fill during heavy rains on Thursday, September 17, that caused a previously repaired sinkhole in a parking lot to reopen.

State recreational water quality officials today lifted a precautionary swimming advisory in Oak Island. The advisory was lifted because floodwaters have rescinded, and pumping has ceased.

The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM) will host a free interactive webinar on the new N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program, September 23, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. The intended audience includes consultants, regional governments, colleges/universities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have an interest in receiving and submitting a response to the program's 2020 Phase 1 and 2 Request for Qualifications. 

The permit requires testing of the influent and effluent to verify at least 99% percent removal efficiency, in addition to specific discharge limits.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office for Coastal Management will host a virtual public meeting as part of the federal performance evaluation of the North Carolina Coastal Management Program and North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. The purpose of the meeting is to receive public comment regarding the operation and implementation of the North Carolina Coastal Management Program and North Carolina National Estuarine Research Reserve. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Oct. 7, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. The public may participate online or by phone.

The N.C. Climate Change Interagency Council will meet on October 1 via teleconference. Topics include the State’s Climate Risk Assessment and Resilience Plan. WHEN: October 1, 2020 10:00 a.m -12:30 p.m. Link:  https://ncdenrits.webex.com/ncdenrits/onstage/g.php?MTID=e00b1bb05a58715356688a134fc6dad0c Event Number: 171 011 9841 Event Password: ICCC Attend by Phone: +1-415-655-0003 (US TOLL) Access Code: 171 011 9841

State recreational water quality officials today advised beachgoers to avoid swimming or surfing in waters where floodwaters are being pumped to the ocean surf in Oak Island.